GUIDE TO RECYCLING, YARD WASTE AND TRASH COLLECTION SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 2021 GUIDE TO SERVICES 1 WHAT’S INSIDE ABOUT THE RESOURCE FOR RESIDENTS RECEIVING CITY COLLECTION RECOVERY DIVISION Weekly Collection Services pg 02 Recycling pg 04 Yard Waste pg 08 Trash pg 10 FOR ALL CITY RESIDENTS Services available to all City Residents The City’s Resource Recovery Division staff and contractors are part of a larger team that works 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep our community livable, green and prospering. Please help the City sustainably recover Recycling Drop-Off Centers pg 06 resources by following the Waste Management Hierarchy through Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! WASTE MANAGEMENT HIERARCHY Glass Drop-Off Centers pg 07 Most Preferred Source Reduction & Reuse Composting at Farmers’ Markets pg 09 Over the last few years, the global recycling market has experienced tremendous pressure driven, in part, by a series of new recycling policies in China, once the largest importer of Trash Drop-Off Center pg 11 recyclable materials. To address the changing landscape, the Recycling/Composting City has prepared a new strategic plan that will guide the City’s solid Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Recycling Center pg 12 waste management for the next 20 years. In 2019, City Council unanimously voted to adopt the WasteSmart Strategic Plan. The Energy Recovery Online Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Tools pg 14 WasteSmart Plan will ensure that Alexandria will continue to be a good steward of its waste. The City will prepare for, and take full advantage of, technological and environmental advancements that will align our Treatment & Disposal Recycling at Special Events pg 15 Least Preferred waste management practices with Alexandria’s commitment to being an exceptionally clean, safe and enjoyable place to live, work and visit. How to Contact Us & Submitting Requests through Alex311 pg 16 Learn more at alexandriava.gov/WasteSmart. Reduce & Reuse Tips pg 17 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Eco-CityAlexandria Waste Management Hierarchy 2 GUIDE TO SERVICES GUIDE TO SERVICES 1 WEEKLY COLLECTION SERVICES REQUESTING SERVICES THROUGH ALEX311 - SEE PG. 16 HELP, I AM UNABLE TO TAKE OUT MY TRASH WHO IS ELIGIBLE? OR RECYCLING Alexandria residents living in detached, single-family If you are physically unable to take your trash or recycling to homes, duplexes, and some townhouses with four or the curb or alley, you may be eligible for an accommodation. If fewer units are required users of this fee-based service. approved, staff will remove trash and recycling from a container Commercial properties and condominium complexes that is staged outside your house at a convenient location for you. are not required users, but may participate at the City’s Call Alex311 to receive an application. This service is not available discretion for a fee. for yard waste. HOW, WHEN, WHERE RECYCLING CART SIZES How do I prepare my waste for collection? While trash cart comes in one size (65 gallon), recycling carts come • Recyclables should be placed loosely in a blue in three different sizes. City-provided recycling container *NO PLASTIC BAGS* • Yard waste should be placed in a customer-provided Please refer to the image reusable rigid container or paper yard waste bag for reference. (purchased at grocery and hardware stores) 1. 65 gallon (recommended) • Trash should be bagged and placed in a City-provided YARD WASTE RECYCLING TRASH 2. 35 gallon container. 3. 18 gallon bin 1 2 3 When do I put out my waste for collection? Each customer is assigned a collection day depending YOU MISSED MY COLLECTION! on their location in the city. Contact Alex311 or visit Your preparation of material for collection is critical for alexandriava.gov/RefuseCollection for your collection us to recover resources, ensure safe collection, and day. Trash, recycling, and yard waste must be set out no RESIDENTIAL REFUSE FEE leave the area neat and clean. If your material is not earlier than 5 p.m. the day prior and no later than 6 a.m. the collected by the end of the day, check for a tag that Your annual residential refuse fee morning of collection. Collection crews operate between the explains why the City could not collect. covers weekly trash and recycling hours of 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. except during the summer collection, yard waste/brush when collection starts at 6 a.m. In weeks containing a COMMON PROBLEMS INCLUDE collection, household hazardous holiday, your collection may slide a day. For the holiday • Collection container, bag, or item is too heavy waste center operations, special schedule, visit: alexandriava.gov/ResourceRecovery. • Items such as carpet or lumber longer than 4 feet collections (leaf collection) and • Contains unacceptable items such as construction Where do I place my waste for collection? enhanced recycling programs. The debris, dirt, brick, and stones (residents should call a fee is listed on your real estate For most residents, collection occurs in the public right- private hauler to dispose of these items) of-way at the front of the house, although some residents tax bill and paid semi-annually. • Dangerous or messy liquids such as gasoline and Additional fees may be required receive alley collection. If you are unsure about where to undried paint place your trash for collection, contact Alex311. Collection for mulch delivery or bulk metal/ • Trash mixed with recycling appliance pickup. containers are to be removed from public property by 7 p.m. on your service day. No tag? Request a “Missed Collection” ticket on Alex311 2 GUIDE TO SERVICES GUIDE TO SERVICES 3 WHAT ABOUT RECYCLABLE ITEMS THAT RECYCLE RIGHT RECYCLING DON’T BELONG IN THE BLUE CONTAINER? Recycling markets are constantly changing. As these Residents who receive City recycling collection service ALEXANDRIA markets change, so does the recyclability of materials. may schedule a pickup for bulky metal items. Metal Sorting technologies and packaging designs also household appliances and large metal items such NO PLASTIC BAGS change over time, which requires the City to review and as outdoor grills, exercise equipment, and chain-link adjust its recycling programs. The City will work to keep fencing can be recycled per request (fees apply). you informed about what is and is not recyclable. Contact Alex311 to put in a ticket. WHAT DO I RECYCLE IN THE BLUE CONTAINER? NO PLASTIC BAGS IN RECYCLING! PAPER & Plastic bags, wrap, and film of any color, size or shape are not CARDBOARD accepted in the City’s recycling bin. Plastic bags are often the biggest EMPTY contaminant found in the City’s recycling stream. These materials clog recycling equipment resulting in safety hazards to employees and operational problems. PLASTICS Recycling facilities will often reject recyclables if they are contained in EMPTY & RINSE a plastic garbage bag or include wraps and films of any kind. The City LABELS OK also pays a penalty when bags and wraps are present. Please help the City reduce contamination by keeping your recyclables loose. METALS EMPTY & RINSE LABELS OK NO RECYCLING! NO STYROFOAM NO BATTERIES & ELECTRONICS NO SHREDDED PAPER NO GLASS NO CLOTHING OR TEXTILES NO PET WASTE / NO DIAPERS NO PLASTIC BAGS NO TANGLERS (CORDS, HOSES, WIRES) NO MEDICAL WASTE / SHARPS RECYCLING GUIDELINES 5. Plastic numbers (#1-7) do not determine recyclability. 1. Materials should be clean, empty and dry. Rinse if Rigid plastic containers with a neck made of #1 and necessary. No food residue. #2 plastics are widely recyclable in the region. 2. Put caps back on containers after emptying. 6. Do not recycle plastic cups, trays and containers such Employees removing tangled plastic bags from recycling equipment 3. Items smaller than 3 x 3 inches will slip through the as take out containers or plastic fruit containers. recycling equipment. No utensils or straws. While all plastics are potentially recyclable, the market Return plastic bags to retailers. 4. Empty and flatten cardboard. Remove air pillows, dictates which types of plastics are acceptable. PLASTIC BAG DROP-OFF Styrofoam or plastic wrap from the cardboard. 7. Visit alexandriava.gov/Recycling for online recycling Plastic bags, wrap, and film can be recycled if they are dropped off at participating grocery stores and retailers. tools and the most up-to-date Yes/No list. Find the nearest retailer: plasticfilmrecycling.org 4 GUIDE TO SERVICES GUIDE TO SERVICES 5 RECYCLING DROP-OFF CENTERS GLASS RECYCLING AT DROP-OFF CENTERS NEW! Can’t wait to recycle? The City provides four public drop-off centers for all City residents and small businesses. • 4251 Eisenhower Ave. • 3224 Colvin St. • S. Royal St. and Jones Point Dr. • Tower Ct. and South Whiting St. 24 hours a day, seven days a week Free alexandriava.gov/19208 Accepted Materials: • Mixed Containers (aluminum cans, steel cans, plastic NO GLASS CONTAINERS IN BLUE RECYCLING! bottles, and jugs) Glass is no longer accepted by the curbside recycling program. • Mixed Paper • Emptied and Flattened Cardboard (remove Styrofoam and HELP US FIGHT ILLEGAL DUMPING Residents have two options: Illegal dumping is the unlawful disposal of trash. 1. Drop off glass at purple glass-only recycling bins. plastic wrap) Illegal dumping threatens the closures of recycling 2. Place glass in the curbside trash carts. Not Accepted: centers. See any violations in progress? Report • NO Glass (Use Purple Bins co-located at Recycling Centers) illegal dumping in the City by contacting Alex311. Glass dropped off at purple bins will be recycled into new glass • NO Styrofoam or Packing Peanuts bottles and materials used in local public works projects. • NO Pots and Pans Stopping illegal dumping makes good • NO Plastic Bags, Wrap or Film environmental and economic sense, and it is alexandriava.gov/108530 • NO Trash, Furniture, Bulk Trash, Construction Waste or everyone’s problem.